How difficult is it to get cabin pics while on a flight. I'd like to start contributing some. Do cabin crews freak at the sight of a flash? Are there security issues? Should you get permission first? I'm only interested in presenting air travel in its best light. Just curious before I get new batteries for my digital camera.

I would definitely not use a flash. It can disturb some people and upset the FA's. If you do raise the ISO, don't raise it too high, or it will not be a.net quality (if that is your goal). On the issue of permission, I wouldn't bother saying anything unless the crew brings it up. The worst they will usually do is ask you to put it away.

I remember on an AC flight from YUL to YYZ, a friend and I got up and went to the back of the A330 and started snapping pictures away. We both took a lot of pictures without getting interrupted.

Honestly, people seemed to be amused by that and even one friendly F/A came by and we started chatting about photography equipment, how good the Digital Rebel really is, digital photography in general, etc... But I guess it always depends of the airline you,re flying with and the crew itself.

Note that I usually ask for permission to take pictures and it always went fine that way. I never use the flash so it won't disturb passengers and F/As and the results I think are far better without the use of a flash.

On my most recent flight, there was a wait in line for the bathroom, so whil waiting in line, I just snapped a couple of pictures and then ran my camera back. The FA was looking right at me and didn't say a word.

Ryanair - Let me take a couple after landing but said it was against company policy.
Palmair - No problems.
Lufthansa - No problems, asked if I wanted to take some more when I was leaving the aircraft.
Iberia - Never had a problem yet.
Air Southwest - No problems.
Air China - As soon as they noticed told me to stop, but next time I flew with them said it was OK.

Generally, keep the camera hidden by your side, I know its difficult if its something like a 300D and if your really unsure just don't get it out until all the FA's are seated for take off or landing. I find it always helps to talk to the passenger next to you, just so they know that your not a terrorist with a camera! Taking pictures at the back of the plane is best to ask about as its so obvious.

Qantas: Out of about 50 flights where I've asked, only one Captain has refused flight deck. One of the head flight attendants upon seeing me on one recent flight, asked me if I wanted shots at the end of the flight.
I've been asked if I've wanted to take more elsewhere by some pilots too.

Cathay: Out of 3 flights where I asked:
1 x Said flat no, but flight attendant gave me a bottle of Champaign to compensate (very nice)
1 x Yes, but no photos
1 x Yes, and as many photos as I liked

SA, he didn't say anything about jumpseats, I think he means flight deck visits at the end of the flight. I'd find it extremely hard to believe that CX allows jumpseat rides for passengers.

The only time I've been denied the opportunity for cockpit photos after a Qantas flight was when an FA said it wasn't allowed for safety reasons (obviously not true!). I'm pretty sure the pilots wouldn't have minded at all.

I managed to get cockpit visits on SQ's A345 , EK 777-300 and CX's 777-200 . I had no problem with EK and CX's cockpit visit , the pilots were very friendly to allow me in the cabin . I managed to take a few shots of EK's 777 cockpit but CX pilot told me photo-taking was not allowed because of company policy but I fully respect his decision. I rather see the cockpit myself that is more important to me. As for the SQ's A345 , the captain was very reluntant to allow cockpit visit, thanks to the FO he managed to let us have a peep. I tried talking to the FO for a while , the captain's face was black as we were in the cockpit a bit too long for his liking.

Recently took pictures (sadly, not a.net quality) on RJ AMM-LHR. The senior FA actually came to the back and volunteered information about the plane and seemed genuinely interested in what I was doing. However, no flightdeck visits on this flight despite waiting to be last off - I was actually asked to move along by a Arabic guy who insisted on being the last person to leave the cabin (I guess he may have been a sky marshall / security man as the flight crew seemed to know him).

I'm an FA for CO, and our official rule is no pics of pax or crewmembers that do not want to be photographed, and no flash when cabin lights are out so as not to wake sleeping pax. Any other shooting is fine.

I fly mostly transatlantic, and have been asked by many with cameras about shooting the cabin or cockpit. I have yet to have a captain refuse a flight deck shot after landing, but its still a no-no in the air. I'll even stick around after the flight to help with cabin shots when pax have gone. Most of my coworkers might not go this far, but probably won't give you a hard time about shooting in the cabin, either.
Highguy76